ABA homeostasis and long-distance translocation are redundantly regulated by ABCG ABA importers

Abstract

The effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on plant growth, development, and response to the environment depend on local ABA concentrations. Here, we show that in <i>Arabidopsis</i>, ABA homeostasis is regulated by two previously unknown ABA transporters. Adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette subfamily G member 17 (ABCG17) and ABCG18 are localized to the plasma membranes of leaf mesophyll and cortex cells to redundantly promote ABA import, leading to conjugated inactive ABA sinks, thus restricting stomatal closure. <i>ABCG17</i> and <i>ABCG18</i> double knockdown revealed that the transporters encoded by these genes not only limit stomatal aperture size, conductance, and transpiration while increasing water use efficiency but also control ABA translocation from the shoot to the root to regulate lateral root emergence. Under abiotic stress conditions, <i>ABCG17</i> and <i>ABCG18</i> are transcriptionally repressed, promoting active ABA movement and response. The transport mechanism mediated by ABCG17 and ABCG18 allows plants to maintain ABA homeostasis under normal growth conditions.